RECEIVERS

The 49ers have two premier threats in WR Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis. In the past, Crabtree had poor practice habits and didn't seem to like football. The free-agent signing of Randy Moss might have prodded Crabtree, and Moss has been an excellent mentor for him as well. Crabtree has powerful hands and exceptional hand-eye coordination, runs hard after the catch and has deceptive speed. "He has athletic arrogance about him," one scout said. Moss averaged just 30 snaps in the regular season but is up to 37.5 in the playoffs. "People play him at the line and think he can't run anymore," one scout said. "He lacks the quick twitch, but once he gets going he's got that long stride where he can cover ground and get separation." Davis is as strong, fast and explosive as any tight end in the game. TE Delanie Walker drops way too many balls but is an excellent athlete and also can get deep. He played 85 snaps in two playoff games compared to just 31 for speedster Ted Ginn, the No. 3 WR.

Ravens WR Torrey Smith has good size and absolutely blazing speed. "This guy can blow by anybody," one scout said. Smith has 204 playoff snaps compared to 196 for Anquan Boldin, 80 for Jacoby Jones and 25 for Tandon Doss. Boldin never could run a 40-yard dash but he's a keen student of the game and uses his 225-pound frame to separate. "He's as tough as any receiver," one scout said. "He has a defensive player mentality. He's dangerous on underneath routes and in the red zone. Great lower body. He's so aggressive to the ball." Like Smith, Jones is another speed receiver. "If you get the ball in his hands he can make people miss," one scout said. Dennis Pitta has played 66.8% of the playoff snaps compared to 46.9% for Ed Dickson, who technically remains the starter. When QB Joe Flacco gets in trouble, he invariably looks for Pitta. He runs excellent routes, always seems to be open and has soft hands. Dickson is an even better athlete with top speed. He just lacks Pitta's feel. Neither one is more than an ordinary blocker, with Dickson having the edge.

ADVANTAGE: EVEN

OFFENSIVE LINE

Several scouts have said the 49ers' group is the best in the NFL. LT Joe Staley and LG Mike Iupati made the Pro Bowl, but O-line coach Mike Solari on Wednesday said former Saint C Jonathan Goodwin had been the most effective starter. "He's just real steady," said Solari. "He brings that experience and leadership." Staley, a three-time Pro Bowl choice, bends well, has good feet and creates movement in the run game. He went 1-1 against Green Bay's Clay Matthews in two meetings this season. Iupati is a 336-pound road-grader who can be lethal on short pulls in the 49ers' diversified rushing attack. RG Alex Boone is 6-7, 315 but bends OK and has a mean streak. His mauling style fits the unit well. RT Anthony Davis, a three-year starter, has tremendous talent but still needs fine-tuning. He will lose focus, lash out at opponents and take needless penalties.

The Ravens changed players at three positions between the regular-season finale and the playoff opener. As a result, the entire offense has been on an uptick. LT Michael Oher moved to RT, rookie RT Kelechi Osemele shifted to LG as the replacement for injured Jah Reid, and former Vikings LT Bryant McKinnie came off the bench after having played just 128 snaps in the regular season. The best player probably is RG Marshal Yanda, who definitely is the toughest member and the group leader. "He's got good enough movement to get on his blocks and he's tough enough and strong enough where he can finish blocks," said one scout. C Matt Birk, 36, overcame a rash of injuries a year ago that handicapped his play and probably was the third-best starter behind Yanda and Oher. Osemele, a second-round pick from Iowa State, has enormous arms (35 7/8 inches) and has his weight down to 325. "He's just a tough, hard-nosed, give-you-what-you-got type football player," one scout said. "He almost doesn't quite know the game yet, the finesse side. He's more in there just fighting and trying to overpower people." Oher, a first-round pick in 2009, lacks the size and arm length (33½) for LT and is borderline powerful enough for RT. McKinnie, 33, has had major weight issues but is down to 350 and moving OK. His legs are fresh and his long arms make him adequate in pass protection.

ADVANTAGE: 49ERS

QUARTERBACKS

Second-year pro Colin Kaepernick (6-4½, 219) will make the 10th start (7-2 record) of his career. In short, he has taken the NFL by storm. A quiet person, he's a cut-throat competitor and shows some of Michael Crabtree's athletic arrogance. He has a rifle for an arm and has shown better touch and accuracy than anticipated. The 49ers run zone-read plays for Kaepernick, sometimes from a "pistol" formation in which the running back can be at least partially hidden directly behind him. On pass plays, Kaepernick will use his 4.5 speed at the drop of a hat and take advantage of pass rushers that lose their lane integrity. Because rushers must exercise undue caution, it gives him more time to look downfield. "He can run and throw, and he's a smart kid," one scout said. Deposed starter Alex Smith might be the best No. 2 quarterback in the game.

Baltimore's Joe Flacco is a big, somewhat gangly drop-back passer who has started all 80 regular-season games in his career. Throwing the deep ball is his forte. "His size is glaring," one scout said. "He has a long-ball arm and really good arm strength. His accuracy can be hot and cold. His receivers have made some pretty good catches for him. He's got enough pocket escape ability but no one is going to mistake him for being a mobile quarterback. He's a tough kid, a competitive kid. He has tons of confidence even to the point he might be a little bit cocky. He has good enough intelligence (24 on the Wonderlic intelligence test). He doesn't kill your team. He has better discipline than (Jay) Cutler." Flacco's 40-yard dash time coming out of Delaware was 4.84 seconds. Backup Tyrod Taylor is an athletic phenom with a lively arm but almost no experience.

ADVANTAGE: EVEN

RUNNING BACKS

Frank Gore scored a mere 6 on the Wonderlic but seldom makes mistakes. He's football smart and expertly prepared by RB coach Tom Rathman, the 49ers' old fullback. Gore posted his sixth 1,000-yard rushing season in an eight-year career. At 29, he remains a determined, darting runner who catches well and is tough against the blitz. When backup Kendall Hunter blew out his Achilles in Game 11 and former Giants big back Brandon Jacobs (since cut) fell out of favor, rookie scatback LaMichael James took on a prominent role. He's a home run hitter, isn't afraid to run inside and catches the ball adequately. Swingman Anthony Dixon is OK in short-yardage situations. FB Bruce Miller, a collegiate pass rusher, has been a real find. "If they feel they can pound you they will go I-backs and just pound on you," one scout said.

The playoff snap counts for the Ravens are 150 for Ray Rice, 58 for rookie backup Bernard Pierce and 91 for FB Vonta Leach, a former Packer. "When the game is on the line Ray Rice is one of those guys you want the ball in his hands," one scout said. "His effort is phenomenal. He's short, not little. He is strong, compact, thick, muscular. Good hands. Dangerous on screens and draws. It's like you hit him and he turns into a rolling ball of butcher knives. But he can change direction and make you miss as well." Pierce began to play in December when QB coach Jim Caldwell, a Beloit native, was promoted to replace fired coordinator Cam Cameron. Pierce has been a revelation, making smooth cuts and breaking tackles. "He kind of picks his way," one scout said. "Poised for a young guy. He's gotten better and better with each game." Leach is an old-fashioned banger, one of the best in the business at uprooting linebackers.

ADVANTAGE: EVEN

DEFENSIVE LINE

RE Justin Smith is playing with a massive protective brace for a partially torn triceps for which he reportedly will undergo surgery this week. One of the most dominant interior players in the league, Smith is far less effective. His hand usage is limited, and he hasn't been able to tie up two blockers on notorious tackle-end twists that once allowed ROLB Aldon Smith to run free inside on quarterbacks. Justin Smith has 117 snaps in the playoffs compared to 115 for LE Ray McDonald, 22 for NT Isaac Sopoaga and 14 for backup DE Ricky Jean Francois. When McDonald wants to control a gap or blocker, consider it controlled. He also has first-step quickness for his size, can apply pass-rush heat and exudes toughness. Sopoaga is more athletic than most nose tackles but almost never plays on passing downs. "Jean Francois has more upper-body strength than Ray (McDonald) but isn't nearly as quick," one scout said.

Baltimore counters with three players in the 350-pound range. Haloti Ngata, the three-technique, is awesome. "It all starts right there with him," one scout said. "He can defend two gaps so it makes it tough to run up the gut on them. He can push the pocket but still rush the passer. He can take over a game." The playoff snap count at NT is 85 for Ma'ake Kemoeatu and 67 for Terrence Cody. The massive Kemoeatu, 34, is in his second tour of duty with the Ravens after sitting out all of 2011. He's in better shape and probably playing better than the equally massive Cody. DE Pernell McPhee (85 playoff snaps) is the other starter in the base 3-4. "He's got a little better quickness than the other big bodies," said one scout. "He provides a little better interior pass rush." DE Arthur Jones, a 310-pounder with decent movement, also plays a substantial role.

ADVANTAGE: 49ERS

LINEBACKERS

The 49ers' quartet might be the NFL's finest. WILB NaVorro Bowman, a third-round draft choice in 2010, is an incredibly fluid athlete. He is even more gifted than SILB Patrick Willis, and that's saying a lot. Willis still might be faster than the younger Bowman, and probably is an even harder hitter than Bowman if the target is lined up directly in front of him. But Bowman is slightly better in the open field. "If you switched their jerseys you might not know who was who," one scout said. "Willis can run like a son of a gun but Bowman's game has elevated. They have size and strength, and they can take on (blocks)." It has taken seven years since he entered the NFL as a supplemental draft choice by Cincinnati, but LOLB Ahmad Brooks finally has realized his great potential. "You've got to watch out for him because he has good strength and he's explosive off the edge," one scout said. "They have a lot of people who can rush the passer. He's a tough, nasty player." ROLB Aldon Smith isn't as strong setting the edge as Brooks, but with his long arms (35 3/8) arms he is far from an easy mark. Rushing is his forte. "He's so slippery," one scout said. "He can do funny things with his body. He can really bend."

The Ravens counter with a vaunted unit of their own. The sheer size on the outside - ROLB Terrell Suggs and top backup Courtney Upshaw are 275, LOLB Paul Kruger is 269 - is a bit overwhelming. Suggs ruptured an Achilles' tendon in April but made a near-miraculous return by Oct. 21. Then he suffered a torn triceps Dec. 2 and sat out two more games. "He's a Pro Bowl guy," one scout said. "Coming off the Achilles' the way he did is certainly comparable to Adrian Peterson coming off the ACL. He's physical. He's nasty. He could have played in another era." Kruger blossomed into a solid pass rusher as a first-year starter replacing departed Jarret Johnson. "Just a guy who was scrappy, relentless," one scout said to describe Kruger. "The flailing of the arms. Not really a great athlete. He's like a junkyard dog type of person." Upshaw, a second-round pick in April, is reminiscent in style to Pittsburgh's James Harrison but has been up and down. SILB Ray Lewis, 37, still plays every snap and, in his final season, remains the heart and soul of the entire defense. He is playing with a torn triceps that cost him the final 10 games of the regular season. "Now he runs 4.8, 4.85, 4.9," one scout said. "Whatever he runs, he won't match up very well against Vernon Davis or Colin Kaepernick. He still hustles and plays hard, and he will certainly seize the opportunity to put a lick on a player." WILB Dannell Ellerbe is a top athlete. "He's best when he can shoot gaps and chase plays down from the back side," one scout said. "I like his hustle."

ADVANTAGE: 49ERS

SECONDARY

The strength of the 49ers' veteran unit is tackling. In coverage, the group isn't nearly as good. FS Dashon Goldson easily ranks among the NFL's top 10 safeties. He provides an intimidating presence against both run and pass with his size and quick close on the ball. A three-time Pro Bowl pick, he can get too aggressive and give up the post. Former Bills SS Donte Whitner still has OK speed and is another heavy hitter. Just don't ask him to make a big play because he has boards for hands, which he hears about all the time from teammates. Former Redskins LC Carlos Rogers moves to the slot in the nickel and dime defense and probably is the 49ers' top cover man, which isn't saying much. He's a knifing tackler and is a student of the game, but his speed is just average. RC Tarell Brown, a starter for two years after backing up from 2007-'10, is a tough guy with a ton of confidence but not great acceleration. Chris Culliver, the nickel back, probably is the most talented cornerback on the roster but has been up and down in coverage. Dime back Perrish Cox played 20 snaps in the playoffs and was OK.

Baltimore's No. 1 cornerback, Lardarius Webb, suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Game 6. Physical marvel Jimmy Smith started the next two games, suffered an abdominal injury and was healthy enough to play 36 snaps against New England on Jan. 20 in a job-sharing arrangement with nickel back Chykie Brown. The starter at LC is feisty Corey Graham, just a special-teams player for most of his five seasons in Chicago. RC Cary Williams (he and Graham never switch sides) is tall (6-1), thin (195) and pretty effective. "Both are solid corners," one scout said. "Technique-sound guys. Not bad athletes. Williams has gotten better." Graham plays the slot on passing downs and likes to blitz, and then Brown and Smith trade off on the outside left. "Brown doesn't have great size but he has pretty good playing speed," one scout said. "Smith has size and speed and play-making ability, but he makes some poor decisions out there on the island." FS Ed Reed, 34, has been one of the game's elite defensive players for a decade but has been slowed by injuries in recent years. "The league has fined him a bunch for the physical hits," one scout said. "Now he's older and playing more on smarts than athletic ability." SS Bernard Pollard is a 223-pounder with violence on his mind. "He's just there to hit and maim," one scout said. "He's always been more of a hitter than a range guy."

ADVANTAGE: EVEN

SPECIAL TEAMS

The 49ers ranked 15th in the Dallas Morning News' annual statistical breakdown of overall special-teams performance. They are coordinated by Brad Seely, who won three Super Bowl rings with New England. P Andy Lee might be the best in the NFL; he tied for first in net average with 43.2. He has a strong leg and really knows what he's doing. Lee placed 53.7% of his 67 regular-season punts inside the 20, the second-best mark in the NFL. David Akers, 38, remains a tremendous talent and there is nothing wrong with his leg. Most of his problems have been mental. He thinks too much. He has made just 30 of 44 field-goal attempts. Ted Ginn remains a threat on punt returns just because of his speed. He isn't a physical runner. Now that kickoff returner LaMichael James has been taught how to handle various situations, he is a major threat. Hard-charging S C.J. Spillman and FB Bruce Miller are the leading core players.

Under Jerry Rosburg, an NFL special-teams coach for 12 years, the Ravens ranked third in the Morning News study. Kicker Justin Tucker, a rookie free agent from Texas, beat out veteran Billy Cundiff in August and has made 32 of 35 field-goal attempts (91.4%). Rosburg undoubtedly is helped by the fact coach John Harbaugh directed Philadelphia's special teams from 1998-2006. P Sam Koch ranked 12th in gross average (47.1) and tied for seventh in net (40.8). "He's more of a distance-hang time guy than he is a directional guy," one scout said. WR Jacoby Jones led the league in kickoff-return average (30.7) and was 15th on punt returns (9.2). "He can hit the crease but he's got good vision as well," one scout said. "He really seems to enjoy the whole return game." One-time Bears LB Brendon Ayanbadejo and S Sean Considine are the top players.

ADVANTAGE: RAVENS

COACHING

Jim Harbaugh is 49, exactly 15 months younger than his brother, John. It is the first game in NFL history pitting brothers as head coaches. In his second year, Jim has provided an enormous lift to a talented team that had been adrift under Mike Singletary. Given an opportunity at midseason because of Alex Smith's concussion, Jim had Colin Kaepernick prepared and then elected to stay with him after Smith recovered. Jim can be excessively brash, but even his harshest critics must acknowledge that he has done an exceptional job. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman presides over possibly the NFL's most diverse running game, and that was even before he implemented the read-option series to fit Kaepernick's many talents. Vic Fangio, the defensive coordinator, is a longtime proponent of the 3-4 fire zone scheme. Both Roman and Fangio worked under Green Bay's Dom Capers in Carolina and Houston. Brad Seely has long been one of the league's savviest special-teams coaches.

John Harbaugh, 50, is in his fifth season in Baltimore after spending 10 years assisting Andy Reid in Philadelphia. He made a shocking decision after a 31-28 overtime defeat in Washington left the Ravens at 9-4. The next day, he fired Cam Cameron, his offensive coordinator since '08, and promoted QB coach Jim Caldwell. Under Caldwell, Joe Flacco has played better and the attack has been more balanced. Defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who held the same post in New England from 2006-'09, is in his first season after moving up from linebackers to replace Chuck Pagano. Despite injuries, Pees' unit has delivered down the stretch. Despite a rash of early-season injuries, the Ravens had other obstacles to clear. Yahoo! Sports reported that Ravens players almost had a mutiny in October because of what they thought was heavy-handed treatment by Harbaugh.

ADVANTAGE: EVEN

About Bob McGinn

Bob McGinn is a beat writer and columnist covering the Green Bay Packers. A six-time Wisconsin state sportswriter of the year, he won the Dick McCann Memorial Award in 2011 for long and distinguished reporting on pro football.